Melissa Blanchard?s breasts were so large they gave her back pain and put pressure on her shoulders and neck that led to migraines. ?I was really uncomfortable all the time,? she says. So when she was in her mid-twenties, she decided to have a breast reduction surgery.
After 10 hours of surgery, Blanchard had gone down several sizes to a C cup. The surgery was life-changing: Not only did she feel better physically but she also felt a lot more confident in her body. Her surgeon had told her there was a possibility the surgery would impact her ability to breastfeed, so when she was pregnant with her first daughter nearly 15 years later, she tried not to get too attached to the idea. ?But once I had her, I really wanted to do it,? she says. Blanchard was relieved when she was able to produce some milk while still in the hospital after delivery, but her daughter lost too much weight in the first few days, and the doctor told her she needed to supplement with formula. For the next few months, Blanchard would nurse, then give her baby a bottle of formula before pumping in an effort to stimulate her supply.
?Breastfeeding just felt like the right thing to do for her immune system, and I wanted the bonding. It was really hard when it wasn?t working,? says Blanchard. By six months, Blanchard gave up nursing altogether, opting to pump and feed whatever breastmilk she could garner by bottle, because her baby was getting so frustrated at the breast. At 10 months, she went to exclusive...